NEW DELHI: India is set to host the inaugural International Big Cat Alliance (IBCA) summit on June 1-2, where officials have encouraged all big cat range countries not yet part of the alliance to join. Currently, 25 of the 95 total range countries have signed on as members, while an additional five countries hold observer status.
“Together, we can build a strong, inclusive, and action-oriented platform to secure the future of these magnificent species,” stated Union Environment Minister Bhupender Yadav, urging the remaining range countries to participate. The IBCA, an inter-governmental organization based in Delhi, aims to establish a global framework for the conservation of big cats.
Minister Yadav launched the summit’s website and logo, announcing that the event will culminate in the first-ever global declaration on Big Cat conservation, known as the Delhi Declaration. This framework aims to enhance international cooperation and assert the alliance’s role in global conservation efforts.
Describing the summit as “strategically significant,” Yadav noted that it would bolster international partnerships, advocate for south-south cooperation, and inspire coordinated actions among big cat range countries. “It will also help align conservation efforts with global biodiversity and climate goals,” he added.
The IBCA, an initiative proposed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi during a celebration of Project Tiger’s 50th anniversary on April 9, 2023, seeks to conserve the seven principal big cats—Tiger, Lion, Leopard, Snow Leopard, Cheetah, Jaguar, and Puma—through international collaboration. India, home to five of these species, is actively working to protect their populations.
The alliance’s primary goal is to foster collaboration among stakeholders, pooling successful conservation practices and expertise to enhance global efforts in big cat preservation. Besides India, countries like Russia, Cambodia, Bhutan, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Malaysia, Armenia, Ethiopia, Mongolia, and Rwanda have also formally joined the alliance.
The upcoming summit, under the theme ‘Save Big Cats, Save Humanity, Save Ecosystem,’ is expected to gather over 400 participants, including conservationists, policymakers, scientists, multilateral agencies, financial institutions, corporate leaders, and community representatives from around the world.
